Cable crimper and cutter method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A combination crimper and cutter tool for crimping ferrules and cutting cable protruding from the ferrule comprises a pair of jaws which have a crimping and cutting area such that the crimping and cutting operation is performed by the same set of jaws. The jaws are pivotal about axes which are symmetrical about a vertical plane between the jaws. The force applied on the jaws by the crimping and cutting operations creates a moment about the axes which varies in magnitude but is symmetrical about the axes allowing for enhanced operator performance with the tool.

INTRODUCTION

[0001] This invention relates to a cable crimper and cutter method andapparatus and, more particularly, to a combination of the same in asingle tool for use in the logging industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] To maintain a bundle of logs in a secure condition duringtransport and otherwise in logging operations, steel cables aretypically used. An aluminum ferrule is slipped over one end of the cableand the cable is positioned so as to encircle the logs. The other end ofthe cable is inserted into the ferrule and pulled tight. The ferrule iscrimped longitudinally using a compressive force in several places by anappropriate tool so that the cable is held securely within the ferrule.The free end of the cable extending from the ferrule is then severed.The cable is severed when the destination is reached or the cable is nolonger necessary.

[0003] Heretofore, the two operations, namely crimping and cutting, werecarried out separately; that is, the crimping operation was accomplishedwith a first tool and the cable was severed with a second tool. Thetools were typically pneumatically driven and since the tools must berobust to adequately crimp the ferrule about the cable and withstand theforces required, the tools were required to be strong and concomitantlyheavy. Using two (2) tools, however, was inefficient and unnecessarilycostly.

[0004] A combination tool which both crimps the ferrule and cuts thecable is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,484 (Myers).This patent describes a tool which has a central vice type jaw forperforming the crimping operation and a cable cutter comprising an anviland a cutter which is mounted offset from the central axis of the toolfor cutting the cable after the crimping operation. This tool operatessatisfactorily under many conditions but it does suffer disadvantages.

[0005] The tool is very heavy as described due to the ruggedapplications in respect of which the tool is used. In order to cut thecable following the crimping operation, the tool must necessarily berotated about a vertical axis while it is being held by the user. Whilethe crimping operation is conducted while the tool is held by the userin a straight ahead position and the forces resulting from the crimpingoperation are applied symmetrically on the user while holding the tool,the cable cutting operation is carried out with the tool held by theuser asymmetrically. Since the tool is quite heavy, it creates asignificant moment force on the user, particularly when the cuttingoperation is actually taking place. The moment created by the asymmetricforce is disadvantageous and awkward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided acombination crimper and cutter tool for crimping a ferrule and cutting acable extending therefrom comprising a first set of crimper jaws forencircling and crimping said ferrule and a first set of cutter jaws forsevering said cable extending from said ferrule, each of said crimperand cutter jaws rotating about coincident axes.

[0007] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provideda method of severing cable and crimping a ferrule positioned on saidcable with a single tool comprising the steps of encircling said ferrulewith a first pair of jaws rotating about a first axis, crimping saidferule with said first pair of jaws in at least one location on saidferrule, moving said tool to encircle said cable extending from saidferrule with a second pair of jaws of said tool and closing said secondpair of jaws to sever said cable, each of said first and said secondpair of jaws being movable about coincident axes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with the use of drawings in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the combination cablecrimper and cutter tool according to the invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic exploded view of the combination cablecrimper and cutter tool of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the crimper and cutter toolof FIGS. 1 and 2 particularly showing the crimper and cutter jaws intheir open position; and

[0012]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the crimper and cutter toolsimilar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the crimper and cutter jaws in theirclosed position.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring now to the drawings, a combination crimper and cablecutting tool is generally illustrated at 100 in FIG. 1. It comprises apair of handles 101 connected to the frame 105 of the crimper and cablecutting tool 100 with a push button 104 operated by the user of the tool100 used for initiating operation of the tool. A pneumatic plenumchamber generally illustrated at 102 is positioned at the rearward endof the tool 100 which is operable to open and close the cutter andcrimper jaws 103 which rotate about vertical axes as will be described.Crimper and cable cutting tool 100 is generally symmetrical about avertical plane A-A extending from the forward to the rearward end of thetool 100, it being understood that the directions given refer to thetool when the handles 101 are held by a user. Axes 110 are symmetricallylocated on opposite sides of plane A-A.

[0014] With reference to FIG. 2, the pneumatic plenum chamber 102includes a diaphragm 111 acting on an attached piston head 115 which hasan attached piston 112 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The piston headand piston reciprocate under control of the diaphragm 111 and spring113. Piston 112 is threadedly connected to movable link block 114 whichreciprocates with piston 112. A pair of concave shaped circumferentialclamps 116 (FIG. 2) encircle the pneumatic plenum chamber 102, diaphragm112 and a casing 117 to hold the various members together and in theircorrect operating relationship during operation.

[0015] A pair of links 120 are rotatably mounted within link block 114by pins 121 and extend generally outwardly from the link block 114 topivotally connect with crimper and cutter jaws 122. Crimper and cutterjaws 122, in turn, are mounted within upper and lower support frames123, 124, respectively, and rotate under the influence of links 120about pins 130 (FIG. 3). A series of bolts 131 (FIG. 2) is used toconnect the upper and lower support frames 123, 124 and a spacer 132maintains the proper distance between upper and lower support frames123, 124 to allow for movement of the crimper and cutter jaws 122 withadequate clearance within the support frames 123, 124. The upper andlower support frames 123, 124 are connected to support block member 125which, in turn, is connected to casing 117 by bolt members 126 (see alsoFIG. 3).

[0016] The crimper and cutter jaws 122 include a crimping portion 133and a cutting portion 134. The crimping portion includes two concaveareas which are adapted to encircle a ferrule (not illustrated) andapply a compressive force on the ferrule thereby to deform the aluminummaterial of the ferrule and crimp the ferrule securely against a cablewithin the ferrule. The cutting portion 134 has two cutters 140, whichcutters are pin mounted in the jaws 122 by pins 135. The cutters 134 areused to sever the cable following the crimping operation and arereplaceable as desired over time by removing pins 135.

[0017] The operator's handle 101 is connected to the upper support frame123 and support block member 125 by bracket 126. Push button 104 isconnected to the pneumatic plenum chamber 102 by a pneumatic hose 106and a coupling 107 between the hose 106 and the coupling 107.

Operation

[0018] In operation, it will be assumed that the crimper and cutter tool100 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3; that is, that the crimperand cutter jaws 122 are in their open condition and that it is desiredto crimp a ferrule encompassing a cable and, thereafter, to sever thecable following the crimping operation.

[0019] The user will connect a pneumatic line from a source ofcompressed air to the fitting 108 (FIG. 2) below the push button control104. Thereafter, the user will manipulate the crimper and cable cuttingtool 100 by handle 101 and encircle the ferrule within which the cableis positioned with the crimper and cutter jaws 122. Specifically, theferrule will be positioned such that the outside diameter of the ferruleis within the concave area of the crimping portion 133 of the jaws 122.

[0020] When the appropriate position of the tool 100 is obtained and theferrule is properly positioned within the crimping portion 133 of jaws122, push button 104 is pressed by the operator. This allows compressedair to pass through fitting 107 and hose 106 to the pneumatic plenumchamber 102. The compressed air will move diaphragm 111 outwardly towardthe forward portion of the tool 100 together with the piston head 115and piston 112.

[0021] Piston 112 is connected to link block 114. Link block 114 willtherefore move forwardly thereby driving links 120 and crimper andcutter jaws 122 which rotate about pins 130 and thereby exert a crimpingforce on the ferrule between the jaws 122. Following the application ofthe crimping force by the jaws 122, push button 104 is released. Spring113 will return the piston head 115 and piston 112 to its initialposition thereby opening the jaws 122 to the position illustrated inFIG. 4 and releasing the ferrule. The operation is repeated until theferrule has been crimped over several positions and the cable issecurely held within the ferrule.

[0022] The tool 100 is then moved toward the operator by the use ofhandles 101 until the cable extending from the ferrule is adjacent thecutters 140. Specifically, the tool 100 is manipulated until the cableis nestled within the recess 141 of the leftwardly mounted cutter 140(as viewed by the user) as best seen in FIG. 3. Push button 104 is againpressed and, in the same sequence as previously explained, the cutters140 sever the cable between the cutters 140. The pushbutton 104 isreleased and the operation is then complete.

[0023] The force applied by the tool 100 during the crimping and cuttingoperations is symmetrical about the pins 130 on which the jaws 122 aremounted. The operator, therefore, is exposed to a moment which is alwaysexerted in the same direction, although, of course, the magnitude of theforce may vary during the crimping and cutting operations. Themanipulation of the tool is not sidewise but, rather, it is simply movedinwardly or outwardly depending on which of the crimping or cuttingoperations is desired by the operator.

[0024] Many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in theart. Rather than being pneumatically powered, of course, hydraulic oreven electrical operation is contemplated depending on the location ofuse of the tool and the availability of compressed air or hydraulicfluid. While the cutters 140 are illustrated and described as beingmounted outside the crimping portion 133 of the jaws 122, the cutters140 might also be positioned inwardly of the crimping portion 133without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, variouslink configurations could be used to power the jaws 122 during operationof the piston 112.

[0025] While the crimping and cutting jaws 122 in the embodimentdescribed and illustrated are included in a single set of members 122,it is contemplated that the crimping and cutting jaws 122 may beseparate members. In this instance, the two sets of members would rotateabout coincident axes and the benefits of the invention of a symmetricalmoment applied during the crimping and cutting operations would remain.

[0026] While the crimping and cutting tool 100 has particularapplicability to logging operations, it is contemplated that the toolmay have applications in other industries such as lumber mills orwherever a large number of heavy items must be maintained together usingsteel cable or, indeed, where it is desired to crimp a ferrule onto asteel cable and thereafter cut the cable extending from the ferrule.

[0027] Many additional modifications will readily occur to those skilledin the art to which the invention relates and the specific embodimentsdescribed should be taken as illustrative of the invention only and notas limiting its scope which should be defined in accordance with theaccompanying claims.

I claim:
 1. A combination crimper and cutter tool for crimping a ferruleand cutting a cable extending therefrom comprising a first set ofcrimper jaws for encircling and crimping said ferrule and a first set ofcutter jaws for severing said cable extending from said ferrule, each ofsaid crimper and cutter jaws rotating about coincident axes.
 2. A toolas in claim 1 wherein said crimper and cutter jaws are included in asingle set of jaws.
 3. A tool as in claim 2 and further comprising apower source for applying power and moving said crimper and cutter jaws,said power source being pneumatic.
 4. A tool as in claim 3 wherein saidcrimper and cutter jaws include a crimping area and a cutting area.
 5. Atool as in claim 4 wherein said crimping area is defined by a concavearea of said jaws and said cutting area is defined by a pair of cutters.6. A tool as in claim 5 wherein said crimping area is inside saidcutting area.
 7. A tool as in claim 6 wherein said crimper and cutterjaws are generally symmetrical about a vertical plane in said toolextending, during operation, from the forward to the rearward portion ofsaid tool.
 8. A tool as in claim 7 wherein said pneumatic power sourcedisplaces a diaphragm and a piston operably connected to said diaphragm,said piston displacing a pair of links connected to said crimper andcutter jaws.
 9. A tool as in claim 8 wherein each of said crimper andcutter jaws rotate about an axis symmetrically located on opposed sidesof said vertical plane.
 10. A method of severing cable and crimping aferrule positioned on said cable with a single tool comprising the stepsof encircling said ferrule with a first pair of jaws rotating about afirst axis, crimping said ferule with said first pair of jaws in atleast one location on said ferrule, moving said tool to encircle saidcable extending from said ferrule with a second pair of jaws of saidtool and closing said second pair of jaws to sever said cable, each ofsaid first and said second pair of jaws being movable about coincidentaxes.
 11. Method as in claim 10 wherein said first and second pairs ofjaws are identical.
 12. Method as in claim 11 wherein said coincidentaxes are generally symmetrically located on opposite sides of a verticalplane extending centrally between said first and second pairs of jaws.13. Method as in claim 12 and further comprising a power source to movesaid first pair of jaws.
 14. Method as in claim 13 wherein said powersource is pneumatic.
 15. Method as in claim 14 wherein said power sourceis hydraulic.